Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Three Cheers for the red, white and blue

Thursday is Flag Day and my bet is there will be few flags flying in the breeze. How quickly people become incensed and band together for a cause, and then how quickly they forget.

When my kids were small, Cherokee Street was still a thriving six-block-long shopping district. Independently owned store front businesses specialized in shoes, jewelry, clothing ... they sold everything that the big box stores sell today. There were four, 5&10 cent varitey stores: SS Kresgee's, Woolworth's, Morris Variety and Neisners. This was before air conditioning. The stores had overhead ceiling fans which moved the hot air around in summer. I loved the "dime stores". Kresgee's served counter food. Greasy sloppy joe meat sat all day in warming pans and hot dogs rolled endlessly on electric heat rollers at S.S. Kresgee. The wafting smell of popcorn, peanuts and candy displayed in glass cases made my mouth water. Woolworths had booths and counter stools to spin on. Favorite Bakery across the street baked the best butter cookies. Proper Shoe sold the extra wide high tops my little boy required. We could have bought a week's worth of groceries for what we paid Gerry Mandel's dad for those white baby shoes ;)

The highlight of the beginning of summer was the Flag Day parade and kiddie carnival set up at the intersection of Nebraska and Cherokee Steets. When the band marched by, my daughter, 5 and son, 2 marched in place at the curb waving their little flags. You know how sometimes you get caught up in the moment and lose yourself? My little guy's legs were going a mile a minute. He was waving his flag like a sparkler on the 4th of July.  Momentum took over and he took off, right into the street to march with the band. Yikes! I embarrassed easily back then; now I laugh at the memory.

Tomorrow I shall hang Old Glory and refelct on the freedoms she represents. Tomorrow I shall tell you about a Flag Day in Alaska. Please come back.

10 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Your Alaska stories are always wonderful. I can't wait, Linda.

Chatty Crone said...

Mine will be up. sandie

Bookie said...

Thanks for the reminder...I am setting my flag out right now!

Susan said...

Nice memories, Linda. You paint great pictures with your words. Our flag is up and ready. Loved reading how your little boy joined the parade! Susan

Terri Tiffany said...

I didn't even remember tomorrow is flag day:( So cute what your son did!!

Joanne Noragon said...

Going into town Monday to go to work I smiled. The Flower Club put flags into all the standards on the bridge on Main street for Memorial Day; they'll come down after Labor Day. I wonder how many people know Flag Day falls in there, too.

Val said...

Funny how a cloth symbol can bring a tear to your eye.

Pat Wahler said...

I have my grandmother's flag which is slowly turning to tatters, yet I can't bear to get rid of it (even with the ceremony-thing). Need to buy a new flag to use for display!

Pat
Critter Alley

Tammy said...

I needed that little R & R: reminiscing and reminders.

Janet Smart said...

What wonderful memories! We have a very tall flag pole and fly our flag almost every day.